Balancer Spotlight: Cryotherapy

Ice has long been used as a treatment for inflammation, pain, and swelling. Cryotherapy is taking this concept to the extreme, and a growing number of people are now finding great results with this relatively new, albeit somewhat controversial, wellness service. Projections show consistent growth in the cryotherapy industry over the past few years, and experts are predicting a compound annual growth rate of 8.8% for cryotherapy services by 2022, reaching nearly $300 million.1

What is cryotherapy?

Although the Japanese invented the technology in the 1970s and it has been used in Europe, cryotherapy only recently made its way to the United States within the last few years. One application of cryotherapy is as an anti-aging treatment for the face and neck. This is known as a cryofacial and involves the use of a probe to deliver liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin. Other localized cryotherapies include cryosurgery, which is used to remove skin lesions, and slimming and contouring cryotherapy.

Whole-body cryotherapy, on the other hand, immerses the entire body below the head in sub-zero temperatures for a short amount of time. Like partial cryotherapy methods, nitrogen is used to freeze the skin. However, instead of applying it directly to the skin, the nitrogen is released into a chamber. The client enters and stands in this chamber during the session, which lasts about 2-3 minutes.

Temperatures in a cryotherapy chamber dip below -200 degrees Fahrenheit. The dry air from the liquid nitrogen helps the body cool more slowly. As the body endures the sub-zero temperatures, it goes into fight or flight mode to redirect blood to the core and protect vital organs. Along with reducing pain and inflammation, this process is believed to have a detoxifying effect. The result is what many people describe as an invigorating, euphoric experience.2

Benefits of cryotherapy

Many benefits of cryotherapy are similar to that of ice treatment (reduction of inflammation, pain, and swelling) but benefits of these sessions are said to go above and beyond acute pain and inflammation relief. Some of the benefits people have reported with cryotherapy include:

A number of celebrities and athletes use cryotherapy, which is only increasing its popularity. Top athletes such as LeBron James and Floyd Mayweather Jr. swear by cryotherapy, and a number of professional teams have a cryotherapy chamber in their facility.4

Of course, the benefits of cryotherapy extend beyond merely helping athletes recover faster and perform better. Originally, cryotherapy was used in Japan as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, and this continues to be a widely used application of the technology. Additionally, cryotherapy usage is also being spurred by individuals seeking alternative treatments for chronic conditions and diseases.

It’s clear that an increasing number of people are finding cryotherapy to be beneficial. There is competition among manufacturers in this industry as well, and further advancements in the technology are expected in the coming years.

Cryotherapy concerns

While people say they have experienced benefits from cryotherapy and there are a number of clinical studies that attest to its effectiveness, there are also those who believe the technology is unsafe and does more harm than good. In general, detractors of cryotherapy believe that the process puts the body under too much stress. Many also point to incidents in which whole-body cryotherapy sessions caused blisters on the skin.

There is also a concern that spas where this service is offered aren’t regulated and equipment may not be up to a high standard. The FDA has also warned against cryotherapy treatments, saying that it puts you at risk of frostbite, burns, eye injury, and asphyxiation. In response to these concerns, however, proponents of cryotherapy say that as long as the established procedures are in place, the process is extremely safe.5

If you are wondering if cryotherapy is right for you, it is recommended that you speak to your practitioner first. Specifically, whole-body cryotherapy may not be advisable if you have a heart or lung condition.

Cryotherapy balancer Virtual Item

Cryotherapy is available to scan as a wellness service in the ZYTO Balance, Select, and Elite software. The item is defined as exposing the body to extreme cold temperature for 2-3 minutes. By scanning the digital signature representing this item, you can determine if the body shows a biological preference for the service.

Clients can benefit from just one treatment of cryotherapy, but additional benefits can result from more sessions.6 A practitioner should make a final recommendation of whether this service is right for a client and the appropriate frequency of sessions based on other information gathered and their professional expertise in addition to ZYTO biocommunication scan data.